Two Catholic bishops have expressed regret for agreeing to a White House meeting that produced a publicly released photo of them praying with President Donald Trump.
Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob, in a statement titled “A Public Apology,” said Sunday that he had received numerous questions and comments — some distraught — about Thursday’s meeting that he and 11 other bishops attended.
He said the meeting was quickly made public by the White House with photos and video, without the consent of the participants, and less than two weeks before the midterm elections.
“I feel profound sadness, not only because of the pain I have caused, but also that something so sacred to a group of religious leaders, prayer to Heavenly Father, has been manipulated in this way,” Grob said.
The Bishop of Des Moines, Iowa, William Joensen, also issued a statement making clear that he felt the White House had taken advantage of the bishops.
“I wish I had been more astute and less straightforward, like those who exploited our meeting for partisan political purposes,” he wrote. “I pray that I will be more careful and wiser in the future, although I remain steadfast in my openness to engage and pray for political leaders at all levels.”
When asked whether or not the White House had received consent from the bishop to release the photos and video, the press office declined to answer that question. Instead, White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers responded, “There has never been a greater president to Catholic Americans than President Trump, and his strong record proves it.” »
The White House invitation to the bishops — issued in September — offered discussions on issues such as immigration control, visas for religious workers, abortion and the use of federal tax credits to support private education, according to Joensen and Grob.
“The meeting was in no way an endorsement of the president, his policies, or his party,” Grob wrote. “We were told that the meeting was to be a private discussion, that several Catholic cabinet members might make an appearance, and that there might be an opportunity to pray privately with the president.”
“It didn’t take long for the White House to release video and photos of the prayer,” Grob said.
“I quickly began receiving messages of deep concern that I may have inadvertently participated in a political event less than two weeks before a national election,” he added. “I have also heard from some people who feel hurt because of the harm caused to themselves or their families by the president’s policies.”
“I didn’t go there without reservations. I would have liked to take that into account,” concluded Grob. “I apologize for any harm caused by my actions.”
Collectively, members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops hold diverse opinions on the policies of Trump and his administration. Minnesota-based Bishop Robert Barron, for example, agreed to serve on Trump’s Commission on Religious Liberty, which was almost entirely composed of conservative Christians. Other bishops have vehemently denounced aspects of Trump’s hardline stance on immigration control, saying it goes against Catholic teaching.
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